God: The Excellent Provider.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" ... 2 Corinthians 9:8

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So. In a wintry February of 2011 I lived on a farm which Grace had moved away from (and I hate being where Grace is not) and Tom was jobless, home 24/7, money was tight and Naomi lived upstairs in what had been my quiet time rooms so I had no special place of my own. Then my favorite cat, Lennon, died and I was more devastated than I told you. And  just weeks later, one of our dearest friends would die, as well as our other cat.


But at the height of all that, in the middle of my tears, I remember the moment when God whispered, "Oh Debra, I will make this up to you. I promise."


And oh... He has, He has. He gave me a house where Grace lives and a place for quiet and a job for Tom and two cats I adore and a huge river practically in my backyard and stores so close I can walk to them. And much more, for God does all things well.


Truly, God has done for me exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all I can dare ask, hope or think. 


And I just want to tell you that what He has done for one, He will do for everyone. Everyone who will not sink under hopelessness. Everyone who will expect godly provision, not more disasters. Everyone who will use their words to pray instead of complain and who'll make right not-always-easy choices. Everyone who would rather die than accuse God of neglect or say that His word doesn't work in 2012. Everyone who will believe good and God are greater than evil doers. Everyone who will seek to love God with all their heart.


Must it all be done perfectly? Ha! Nothing we do is perfect. But it's more of a "pressing toward the mark" kind of thing--our aim is what matters. What are we aiming for? Our own way or God's?


Our God is an excellent Father who provides for His kids--and I don't care who tells you He doesn't. "Let God be true and every man a liar." And if you're having trouble believing that today, I hope you will search the Bible for every promise about God's amazing provision for His kids. Speak those promises aloud, accept them as truth, memorize them if you can. Write them on your heart and never, never let anybody steal them away from you. 


Hold onto those promises until you die.


God can fix any broken thing and make it even better than it used to be. He's just looking for people who will truly believe that in their hearts, hold onto it, even in the middle of very hard times.




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"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"  ... Matthew 7:11

"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the Lord of hosts.

"I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."  ... Psalm 37:25


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Want more verses about how God will take care of us? Go here.

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Searching For New Inspiration

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."  ... Philippians 4:6

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Remember how, yesterday, I mentioned Tree Guy? Well, he's the kind of guy who, when you think of him, makes you smile. 

We've known him for ages, but only see him every few years and well, he drove up on this motorcycle with a nifty sidecar (!).  He'd just had a surprise 50th birthday party which, he said, was a huge backyard affair with his daughters' families and tons of friends. They had a blast, even gave everybody rides in his tree-cutting basket, (you know, that thing that rises way up in the air so they can reach trees' tallest parts), like a carnival ride. They zoomed tractors and 3-wheelers around his 20 acres and had a bonfire and his wife even invited everybody to take turns cutting his hair because he'd not cut it in 6 months.

The day after that, he jumped out of a plane for the first time and was still reeling from the awesomeness of that. And as always, he bubbled-over with stories about how God has blessed him and his family.

Good gracious. I wish I knew more people like Tree Guy. 

Especially these days while my Christian friends and relatives blog and post at Facebook their shock about this big, bad world. Why the surprise? I ask. Sheesh, we were warned about these days for thousands of years: 

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. .... they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone." from 2 Timothy 3

If only it was clear to everyone just what's going on! If only they'd remember we're to be full of God, not full of bitterness, anger. Or fear. Or despair. 

Anyway. Starting today, I'm going on a search for other Christians like Tree Guy! Gratitude-oozers. Full of God, full of good fruit, inspiring, positive attitude, full-of-the-joy-of-living people. 

Their inspiration keeps me going, happy, in Today's crazy world--and don't we all need that?

*****

Thanks for your comments about our soon-to-fall trees. I'd like to replace them with two other trees, but I can't. Our yard is small, we are surrounded by huge sycamores, as well as a tall honeysuckle hedge on two sides, our crab apple tree barely hangs-in-there for want of light and the whole chi of the yard would be thrown-off if we added a tree.

But. I am working diligently on my side yard garden, replacing what was literally just dust and I've hauled in healthy new soil bag-by-heavy-bag and have lots of vegetation planted there. 

So I'm trying! But sometimes there are only certain changes a person can make in her yard.

******

"... for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."  ... James 1:3

Yes! That's to be the result of our trials. Steadfastness. Growth. A calmer knowing that God will always take care of us.

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Sometimes Trees Must Fall

Here at Hobbit Cottage we have a huge problem. It's this:

(Be sure to notice the second tree, especially. Good grief.)

When the winds blow, those trees push against our garage. And of course, there's no room for gutters up there and the concrete garage floor is so pushed-up by the roots, that it's become chunks which flood to four inches in most places whenever it rains hard. We had Concrete Guy over for a driveway estimate and he said that-- unless those trees go away--eventually any new concrete inside the garage will become chunks, too.

So. Maybe you recall how ballistic I, being a tree-loving gal, went when our other-suburb neighbors (two different ones) cut down their beautiful huge trees behind us, but what I've realized since? 

Sometimes trees must fall.

And these two trees are not long for this world. Technically, they belong mostly to our neighbor, but he said no problem, cut them down (which is a blessing cuz Concrete Guy said neighbors usually cry, "No way!"). This week we had Tree Guy (an old friend from our first church here in NY) come by for an estimate. Not only will he chop the trees down, but he'll snip branches from a sycamore which is making our crab apple tree grow all wonky due to lack of sunlight. He'll trim the crab apple tree, also.

So because I try to be honest here in this blog, I just wanted to tell you about the upcoming tree murders. Some of you will understand, others will be angry at me--but I cannot live to make everybody happy. That's one sure recipe for a miserable life. 

All God asks is that I be honest with you and do what I feel He's given me peace to do. And that's what I've done.




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"Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."  ... Philippians 4:7

"Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding." ... Proverbs 4:7



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Why I Don't Figure Things Out

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come." (John 16:13)

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So while Tom was laid-off for 20 months, he and I had a cool, relaxing time. Well, after I finally stopped complaining about him hanging around the house 24/7. After that, our cool time became more awesome.

Shouldn't we have been, well, frantic? I mean, no job for Tom at 54! Well, God is the God of the opposite world, you know: The first shall be last. Give things away and then after you give, you will receive more. Spend time with God and somehow you end up with more time. If you want to be great, be a servant. Etc. 

So I realized early that He expected me to not act like every unsaved Tam-Vick-and-Carrie does when their husbands get laid-off from a 30-year career. Which meant no new worry lines in my face allowed. No sleepless nights or resenting the bosses who released Tom from his job. No doubting that God was big enough to take care of us. No spoken words of unbelief--and quick repentance if I did speak them. 

No secret, sorry expectations of my Life going from bad to worse.

And one more thing? No figuring-out inside my head every move we were supposed to make or what our near future would entail. But rather? Listening. Lots and lots of listening to that still, small voice of wisdom, comfort, knowledge and peace. Listening to the real Father who knows best.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths..."  ... Proverbs 3:5

I hate figuring things out. Heck, I certainly don't know The Unknown. I can't understand complicated technicalities nor see into the future and I certainly don't trust myself to know what's best.

But I do know God and He knows all that. 

Hence, that's why I listen to Him. "My sheep hear My voice," Jesus said and His voice calms me. My heart and my head, especially when I am still--that's when I know Him best. 

So rather than reasoning, I'll just continue listening. It's working well so far.


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"Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Thee because he trusts in Thee."  Isaiah 26:3

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Sarah asked if I found any books yesterday at Salvation Army and yes! This one for .99 cents:

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"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

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Sometimes A Book is a Book is a Book...

Well. I take back every goofy, judgmental, biased word I ever said about Kindle. You know, about how we true bibliophiles prefer our real books, the feel and smell of the pages in our hot little hands.... blah, blah, blah.


Why? Because I am in love with my simple, limited-in-lots-of-ways Amazon Kindle Cloud Reader.


Gracious, after just a few days with that thing, I already have 103 free books on it! To me, that's like walking into a Barnes and Noble and being told that--if you search the shelves thoroughly--you'll find lots of free books, yours for the lugging away. But try finding space for 103 new books upon my shelves at home? No could do! Another wonderful thing about the Kindle--all those books stay inside my computer.


And well, I don't care what kind of a book lover you consider yourself--who doesn't love free books?


Anyway, Tom actually gets today off(!) so I'm going with him over to our previous suburb town where I'll shop Salvation Army while he gets his teeth cleaned. Maybe I'll discover some good old books there! But even if I don't, my 103 free books will be home waiting for me and God knows how grateful I am for that.




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Remember how I said I wouldn't post anymore of my free ebook titles? I lied. Here are some more:






From Your Heart to Your Home by Reda Johnson
Past Suspicion (Christian Romantic Suspence) by Therese Heckencamp
The Little Sleep Book That Works by Seth Smith
South To Alaska: A True Story by Nancy Owens Barnes
Write For The Fight (A Collection of Seasonal Essays) by Tess Hardwick and Tracy M. Hansen
The Breakfast Taco Book by Hilah Johnson
Weekend Homesteader: December by Anna Hess
Redecorating Your Home on a Budget by Angela Russ
Top 30 Vegetarian Slow-Cooker Recipes For Busy Woman by Sarah Jessica Cook
Two Scoops of Grace With Chuckles on Top by Jeanette Levellie
No, Never Alone: "I Promised" by Aleda Marshall
Say Good-Bye to Chaos: Organize Your Life by Edward V. Lewis
How to Compost by Lars Hundley




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Weight, Truth And Freedom

"Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."  ... John 8:32

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Ack! Something weird is happening. See the part of that mirror, below? 

Each time before I go out into the world, I stand before that mirror and I look, well, decent. Not thin (no way!), but tucked-in the right places, tailored and, well, again, decent enough to make me feel presentable. Not great, but ok.

Well. On Saturday, I drove to our local Target, pushed my cart along the aisles then stopped in front of a full-length mirror and --and -- (sniff, sniff)--and-- I looked like a balloon! A roly-poly, dressed-in-black-but-it-ain't-helping, balloon.

Gah.

Immediately I told myself, "You need to go home and not eat. And not come out of the house till you lose ten pounds." (Yeah, right.). "No more bread. Only an occasional dessert," (rather than, er, daily ones). "More exercise and water and a stronger determination to stay away from that dreaded, craving-inducing high-fructose corn syrup." 

 Then I thought, "Well, at least I have a polite mirror at home which makes me look much trimmer than I do in Real Life. That's something, at least!"

But is that a good thing? Is a lying  mirror which makes me appear slim at home actually doing me a favor? I think not.

Since 1994 (especially) it's been the Truth about myself which has set me free. I had to see and admit that I'd been stubborn (and not the good kind that keeps you from giving-up) and tactless (with a dreadful tone of voice) and fearfully-and-pridefully shy with lots of selfish ambition and --- well, I'll spare you. 

Anyway, by letting Jesus show me those areas, confessing they were true, repenting for them and then allowing Him to change me--only then--did I know what an amazing life of freedom looked and felt like.

And I guess that's why I have a hard time hearing people advise, "Just sit and listen to people. Pat them on the back. Tell them, "Hang in there and just keep doing what you're doing." (Did Jesus ever do that?) Especially if what they're doing is what led them to their current mess(!), for oh! that's so difficult for me to do. Or understand. 

No, freedom comes from facing truth about ourselves and letting that truth lead us right back to the only One who can set and keep us free. Someone who, all the while, will love us unconditionally even right in the middle of our self-made disasters, no taunting or ridiculing, ever (but He will ask us to do some hard stuff. I know.) 

And since He's not condemning me, I need not condemn myself.

And this Jesus is the same One who loves me even with all this winter weight I'm carrying around. He'll be my greatest advisor, cheerleader  and friend during the losing of that weight. Thank-goodness. I'd be so sunk without Him.


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"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  ... Galations 5:1 Saw this on a refrigerator decades ago and never forgot it:  it was a magnet of a sheep with the words, "Ewe's not fat, ewe's fluffy." Loved that. It's become a family joke amongst Tom and myself.  ツ ************** Aww... If you enjoy reunions, you'll like this short video about 2 sisters reunited after 8 decades. ******************

The Child In Our Faces

So! I enjoyed reading the road trip book, Tender Graces, by Jackina Stark. 

Mostly. 

Though relieved to watch Audrey grow closer to God, I felt sorry it hadn't happened before her husband's death (no spoiler there, he dies in the first sentence). She'd known about Jesus, but hadn't formed a friendship with Him, so her husband's death knocked her flat for 15 months. 

Then she takes the road trip and snaps out of her paralyzing gloom, beginning a real walk with Jesus.

Anyway. Audrey says something in this book which bugged me. She visits an old classmate from high school and this happens:

"While we exchanged biographical information accumulated since high school, he kept staring at me. Finally he put his hands on my shoulders and looked into my face.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm looking for the girl," he said.

Taken off guard by such a statement, I laughed. Then I mumbled something about needing to get home.

He meant no harm, but I really have no desire to be around people looking for "the girl." It devalues the woman."

My, my... Sounds like Audrey had a sticker in her pantyhose. Or her insecurity, not knowing who she was in Christ, was showing.

Me? I love to find the child in peoples' faces. Do it all the time, in fact, like when I see grown-up child stars on tv and especially when, at Facebook, old school friends share recent photos of themselves all these 40 years after I last saw them.

Always I search for the girl!

Why? Partly because, hey, it's fun. It's like a hunt to see again the childhood face you remember when you and your friend played hopscotch or jacks and sat next to each other in math class. And it becomes an aha moment when you find her still there behind the lines and scars and grey hair, especially if she has a healthy child inside. 

Oh, how we still need to play!

But also? Years ago I'd walk down to the convenience store and God often nudged me to find the little boys' face in the faces of the long-haired, rough-looking men buying boxes of beer and cigarettes at the check-out counter.  And I could! Past the roughness I could view the vulnerability as (especially) the men reached into their pockets to count out their money, a vulnerability around their mouths, their stance, much as a child's, and I'd feel a sadness that --for all their work--their money would go up in smoke and down in liquor.

But viewing that long-ago child clearer than the hard, after-life-spits-you-out side, caused me to more easily pray for these people who too often feel invisible. Forgotten. To me, it felt like praying for the children Jesus spoke of loving so much in the Bible, for that's what I mostly saw--the child inside who so needs to know love, the real kind.

So I'll continue to search for the girl, the boy, in peoples' faces. To smile at and pray for them, in hope that someday these children all-grown-up will receive the love Jesus died to give them.


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Free Kindle, Anyone?

So! I just wanted to make sure you all know you can download a free kindle for your PC at amazon.com.


Cool, huh?


Judy F. told me about that weeks ago, but yesterday I finally got around to actually doing it (it's technically called a kindle cloud reader). And then, being a Great Penny-Pincher, I spent the afternoon downloading all the good free books I could find there.


Don't you just love free stuff?


Well anyway, I thought I'd keep today's post simple and just list for you the free books which now reside in my free amazon kindle. And oh! I'd love to read your own recommendations of free kindle books online in my comment box or hey, even the .99 cent books would be ok, too. heh.


Thanks!




So You Think Your Mind is Renewed?  by Cornel Marais
Get Organized! Your 12 Month Home Clutter Killer by Colete Leigh
Never Buried (Leigh Koslow Mystery Series) by Edie Claire
Eating 4 Eternity: Unlock Your Holistic Lifestyle by Jenny Berkeley
Invisible (Ivy Malone Mystery Series #1) by Lorena McCourtney
How to Speak and Write Correctly by Joseph Devlin
Farm Gardening by Anonymous
Chicken Cookbook by Gooseberry Patch
Always Know What to Say by Peter W. Murphy
16 Expert Lessons For Successfully Managing Your Personal Finances by FT Press Delivers
Betty Gordon at Mountain Camp by Alice B. Emerson
Snacks Under 100 Calories by Corina Tudose
The Christmas Adventure at Carver House by Hildegard G. Frey
Penny Nichols and the Nob Hill Mystery by Joan Clark
Stuck in the Middle (Sister-to-Sister, Book 1) Virginia Smith
Hide In Plain Sight by Marta Perry
Helpful Herbs for Health and Beauty by Barbara Griggs
Ruth Fielding: Solving The Campus Mystery by Alice B. Emerson
Vintage Cake Recipes by Amy Renee
Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key by Joan Clark
Earthly Delights (Corinna Chapman#1) by Kerry Greenwood
Building Your Book For Kindle 








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Now, will I actually read these books? I wonder, being the great bibliophile I am, you know, with the whole loving-to-touch-and-smell-real-books thing. We shall see...




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Oh, and please don't ask me specific questions about how to find and/or download the kindle at amazon or how to load books, etc. I am still reeling with shock that I figured it out (must have been divine guidance!), for I now have no conscious memory as to how I did all that. Alas!)




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Summer Thoughts

Oh the humidity!

Heh.

And yet our faithful little window air-conditioner is chugging away, slurping up all that bad humidity just the way it's supposed to. And I am ever so grateful.

And see my 'new' corner in the photo, above? The cool air from below just barely wafts to the top of the stairs there, so guess where I'll be spending my summer? In my own little corner, my own little chair, being whatever I want to be (smile. Remember that song from Cinderella?). It's an area perfect for reading and clipping coupons, also, and what a treat to sit amongst my dream-became-reality library at my right.


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I forgot to tell you that two weeks ago I looked out the kitchen window to our backyard and saw a mother duck with 8 tiny babies toddling behind her! Oh my, even on the farm we never saw ducks, just geese. Anyway, I whispered loudly for Tom to come to the window and he, Mr. Birdman, was especially delighted. We hope they waddled safely through lots of backyards to the river over a block away.

Speaking of animals, look at this:

What did we ever do without Daniel? I chase and play with him (I've got the scratched-up hands to prove it) and it shocks me that I once considered never having a cat again after we lost Lennon. 

Oh, what I would have missed! 

Daniel is like every sweet, smart cat we ever owned all wadded into wild-eyed, striped-grey fur. He has the best habits of Lennon, McCartney, Skittles and Oreo and it's like he's brought them back to life for us.

We can be so foolish sometimes. 

We read how the Bible says to guard our hearts, but we confuse that with guarding them against ever being hurt again. We build walls to keep people and/or animals out because we're afraid they'll hurt us someday--if not in word or deed--then by dying on us. And we worry that we'll fall apart, that God and Grace won't be enough.

But oh, the joy and laughter we miss behind those walls! The lessons and growth we get no other way, the memories we never make, the missing pieces inside us which we wonder about. Oh, what we miss.

Anyway. No matter what's down the road, I'll always be grateful that Tom and I bravely plunged and adopted both Daniel and Sammy. Every single day they delight me, especially now that Tom's working his proverbial head off (but enjoying it). 

And I wouldn't trade these two new cats for anything.


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"He must increase, but I must decrease."   ... John 3:30


Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  ... Proverbs 4:23

(.... and may I always choose the right course, the best one which God mapped out for me eons ago.)


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"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all..."

From The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

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Of Those In Heaven

Okay. Just stay calm and think about this first. I just wanted, no, needed, to explain how I feel about this. (And after reading this you'll see why I've never been the most popular kid on the block. Er hem.)

Yesterday, Father's Day, various of my dear Facebook friends and relatives wrote that they missed their dads who now live in Heaven and days like Father's Day, they said, were painful. Hard to get through.

I just do not understand that. 

Call me weird or unfeeling, but I just can't comprehend torturing yourself on days of remembrance, including anniversaries of loved ones' deaths.

What did I do on Father's Day? 

I pictured my Dad walking around Heaven with a gang of his pastor friends and his parents and his sister's family, also. Almost could I see the wonder still in their eyes at the whole glorious place, even though they've lived there awhile. 

Everyone was happy. Everyone sang and looked around at the lights and buildings and praised God then sang and looked around some more. 

The group stopped for marvelous coffee. They sat outside of a heavenly bistro in the Sonshine and laughed and felt inward surges of gratitude swell to their throats. Then after their coffee and uplifting conversation they rose up from the tables and went in search of a new heavenly adventure. 

What to do now? A mountain walk? A swim in the River of Life? A stroll through a neighborhood yet unvisited?

Well, by then I felt so excited for the whole gang, that I began to get impatient about zooming to Heaven, myself. So I had to stop the daydreaming, for it was all too good. Too enticing.

But what I certainly did not do on Father's Day? I did not wish my dad back here to this sorry planet. Uh, no. Let's face it. People in Heaven do not want to come back here to us (sorry, but they don't) and I think it requires a certain humility along with maturity to admit that to ourselves. 

Their desire is that we let God comfort our hearts and that we be with them in Heaven, but only after we've lived a full, obedient, pleasing-to-God life here, first.

And instead, I would propose that we just be super grateful that our loved ones in Heaven are experiencing incredible, unimaginable, glorious times with others gone before us. 

Why 'let my heart be troubled'? Instead, I'll choose to be thankful that I have Emmanuel, 'God with us', helping me live in joy here upon this imperfect planet, infusing me with a glorious anticipation of a whole new Life to come while I wait, while I work, and while I get to know Him better this side of Heaven.




******

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.” ... John 14:1-4

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Running To Be A Blessing. And To Win.

So yesterday Tom and I went to a huge church rummage sale, one held outside, and all their books cost just .25 cents each. Gracious! The money went to missions, and well, I bought four books, but I gave the woman at the booth $2 instead because, as I told her, $1 just felt like too little. 

She and the young man beside her thanked me in a surprised way and really, I should have paid even more. But I'm glad I gave at least the extra dollar, for there's a time to rejoice because you got a killer deal and a time when your killer deal makes you feel like you're stealing. Er hem.

May we always recognize the difference.

Speaking of books, one of my goals eons ago was to own an customized personal library, books I'd also hoped Naomi would treasure, but she read only a few, mostly for school book reports or for the $1 I paid her one summer for each book she read (I know, I know. But I was desperate. heh.). 

Yet she still insists that, in the 1st grade, she burned-out on reading when, during a class contest, she read 300 books, most aloud to me, since the kids were required to read them aloud to someone, anyone.

Alas.

Goals! I think many people flounder because they have no goals. Even the Bible seems to agree:

"Where there is no vision, the people perish..."  ... Proverbs 29:18

I've considered goals lately, especially with the whole Nik Wallenda walking-over-Niagara-Falls-because-he's-dreamed-of-doing-that-for-27-years thing and I've felt doubly thankful for the goals God has helped me accomplish:

Having a long, loving marriage.
Raising a wonderful, kind daughter.
The aforementioned personal library.
Becoming a writer.
Writing a 'book' (this blog).
Connecting with readers of 'my book.'
Owning a farm.
Visiting a Laura Ingalls Wilder site (Malone, NY)
Becoming an encourager.
Owning a home outright.
Taking a train trip across the United States.
Becoming a Coupon Queen. Of sorts. :)
Owning many favorite films/tv series on dvd.
And hundreds of small, daily/monthly/yearly goals, as well.


But my favorite goal? I remember praying around 1989 that I would have a close, real-as-can-be friendship with Jesus and oh! In 1994 that began to happen and nothing has looked or felt the same ever since. For me, it's made all the difference.

But what happens without God-given goals? We wander. We do a little this, a little that, step here, step over there, become proficient at nothing and inspire and touch and bless only a few people. 

And who wants that?

Oh, to discover the gifts God placed inside us! When we stand before Him we'll be grateful we used those gifts, that we perfected and completed them and ran our race well. To win.

Just some things to think about on this Father's Day. Have a happy one!


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Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  ... 1 Corinthians 9:24

" The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’  His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master."  ... Matthew 25:20,21

Satan's goal is to keep us from completing ours. He tries to keep us distracted with things which do not matter so that we pay no heed to the things which do.


******

These are the books I bought at the rummage sale: Buggies, Blizzards and Babies by Cora Frear Hawkins (I owned this one decades ago), Best Wishes by Harold E. Kohn, None to Give Away by Elsie Doig Townsend and Country Garden Planner by Country Home

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He Made It!

Did you miss Nik Wallenda's amazing walk across Niagara Falls?


If so, you can watch the short version here. Loved it. Loved the way he praised Jesus along the wire, especially (I'd read last week that he was a born-again Christian. Way cool.)


Lots of film of the beautiful falls, too, in case you've never visited them. Enjoy!




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(There's more coverage, from earlier in the day, after the first film in that link if you'd like to watch more.)




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“The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – William John “Bill” Copeland, Australian Test cricket match umpire




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